Bhatkal: Once beautiful parks with fountains; these have now turned into jungle, home for reptiles
03:27PM Sat 22 Sep, 2018
Bhatkal 22 September 2018: (Bhatkallys News Bureau) In 2004, when Parvez Kashimji was the Bhatkal TMC President, the local government body constructed three beautiful mini-parks beside roads in different parts of the town in a bid to beautify the exterior of the town, perhaps to display a sign of development that was fast taking place in town.
Three mini parks one each at NH 66 (NH17 then) near city light hotel, Bunder road fifth cross and one near Bhatkal urban co-operative bank on Main road were constructed in the year 2004.
Fast forward to 2018, these 'mini parks' now lies without shape and proper maintenance and has now turned into jungles that has become home for reptiles like snakes, while the one on Bunder road has been demolished owing to the road widening recently.
Initially the parks did add to the glory and beauty of the town as lightening and fountain at the one near Urban bank attracted many eyes as for its prime location with main road on one side and the National highway on the other. But as years passed by and with change in administrations, the parks failed to attract the attention of the administration for its regular maintenance leading to its current condition.
As for its maintenance the administration every year clean the shrubs and bushes after the monsoon season, and leaves it plain with no greenery which merely looks like an abandoned plot.
Incidents have been reported wherein different snakes have been seen entering and coming out of the shrubs and bushes, which also pose threat to the pedestrians and nearby residents.
When inquired, the administration cited non-maintenance owing to the demolition of both the remaining parks soon, as the NH widening work will enter the Bhatkal limits. But surely they can't blame the same problem for the non-maintenance of the parks for so many years together, as the road widening plan was approved recently, while the parks remained without adequate maintenance for over 6-8 years now.
(Bhatkallys News Bureau/ Ismail Zaorez)
Initially the parks did add to the glory and beauty of the town as lightening and fountain at the one near Urban bank attracted many eyes as for its prime location with main road on one side and the National highway on the other. But as years passed by and with change in administrations, the parks failed to attract the attention of the administration for its regular maintenance leading to its current condition.
As for its maintenance the administration every year clean the shrubs and bushes after the monsoon season, and leaves it plain with no greenery which merely looks like an abandoned plot.
Incidents have been reported wherein different snakes have been seen entering and coming out of the shrubs and bushes, which also pose threat to the pedestrians and nearby residents.
When inquired, the administration cited non-maintenance owing to the demolition of both the remaining parks soon, as the NH widening work will enter the Bhatkal limits. But surely they can't blame the same problem for the non-maintenance of the parks for so many years together, as the road widening plan was approved recently, while the parks remained without adequate maintenance for over 6-8 years now.
(Bhatkallys News Bureau/ Ismail Zaorez)
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